What does it mean?

Feeling embarrassed can be a very upsetting experience. You might feel weird, picked on, stupid, ugly or worthless, even when you've done nothing wrong. You might feel ill or like you want to cry. It can also make you nervous or worried.

Embarrassment can be a passing feeling that’s not a big deal, or an overwhelming feeling that's hard to cope with. Sometimes it can seem like the feeling will never go away.

It's important to remember that embarrassment doesn't last forever and it can get easier to cope with as we understand situations better.

What embarrassment feels like

People can feel embarrassed in all kinds of situations. It can be a general feeling, for example when you meet someone new and find it difficult to talk to them. Sometimes it’s a particular thing that makes you feel embarrassed – like saying something which came out wrong, or doing something you think other people will laugh at.

Other people’s behaviour can embarrass you too. Someone’s nasty comments about you can make you feel awkward or humiliated.

Whatever you’re feeling embarrassed about, remember that it’s natural to feel this way. Everyone gets embarrassed. And we all do things that we feel a bit silly about. Or things we wish we'd done differently or not at all. It’s impossible to get things right all the time.

You don't have to cope with this feeling on your own, you can talk to Childline for help.

Sometimes this can stop you from blushing or feeling really stressed. Sometimes you might think something was really awkward or humiliating, but other people might not have even noticed. So stay calm. Act like it’s no big deal.

Talking about how you feel can often make things seem better or help you understand your feelings. Try talking to a friend or adult who you trust. You can also check out the message boards to see how other people cope with embarrassment.

If you feel your behaviour might have upset someone you could try to apologise to them. You could tell them how sorry you are and you regret what happened.

Telling someone can be a first step in moving on. Admitting that you've done something wrong shows you can take responsibility and learn from mistakes. You could also think of ways to stop it happening again or talk to Childline for support.

You can talk to us about anything

When you feel embarrassed about something, it can feel really hard to ask for help. It’s normal to perhaps feel ‘stupid’ or ‘not important’, or think that other people will laugh or not understand.

Even though it can be hard to share some things, it’s important to know that there are people who can support you and take you seriously. We talk to young people about all sorts of things. Even if you feel embarrassed or ashamed about what's happened, we'll never judge you and we'll always listen.